Classic Empire to skip Pennsylvania Derby

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Classic Empire, last year’s champion 2-year-old male whose 3-year-old season has been interrupted by infirmity and immaturity, will not run in the Grade 1, $1 million Pennsylvania Derby at Parx on Sept. 23, trainer Mark Casse said on Monday.

Casse said he is still not totally satisfied with how Classic Empire is training at Winding Oaks Farm in Ocala, Fla., adding that inclement weather there has interrupted his training schedule. Casse said Classic Empire will remain in training but is not pointing to any particular race.

“We’re not going to make the Pennsylvania Derby,” Casse said. “He’s doing fine, but I still haven’t got him where I want him. We’re going along, playing it day by day. I’m not going to worry about a race. I want to get him where I’m happy with him.”

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Classic Empire has not run since finishing second to Cloud Computing in the Preakness Stakes on May 20. He was pointing to the Belmont Stakes but did not enter the third leg of the Triple Crown when a foot abscess was discovered on June 6, the day of entries.

Classic Empire was sent to Saratoga in July but refused to train on several mornings. On Aug. 14, Casse shipped the horse to Winding Oaks Farm, where Classic Empire was broken and where he was sent during the winter when he refused to train at Palm Meadows in south Florida.

Classic Empire did well enough at Winding Oaks Farm to win the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby before running fourth in the Kentucky Derby.

In addition to dealing with foot issues earlier this year, Classic Empire has had issues with his back that are being addressed at Winding Oaks Farm.